Why Some Streets Are Cleared Before Others - Snow Emergency Routes

As snow begins to accumulate, the Borough concentrates on certain streets. The first streets that receive attention are the snow emergency routes. As long as the snow keeps falling, the Borough’s first priority is to keep the snow emergency routes open and passable. As soon as all the snow emergency routes are clear, equipment is immediately moved into other areas. The Borough snow emergency routes in Phoenixville are Bridge Street from Pothouse Road to the Schuylkill River; Church Street from Bridge Street to Starr Street; Dayton Street from Emmett Street to Freemont Street; Emmett Street from Franklin Avenue to Dayton Street; Franklin Avenue from Gay Street to Emmett Street; Gay Street from the southern Borough boundary to Franklin Avenue; Main Street (Rt. 29) from the southern Borough boundary to Nutt Road; Main Street from Nutt Road to Bridge Street; Manavon Street from Nutt Road to Starr Street; Nutt Road from the eastern Borough boundary to the western Borough boundary; and Starr Street from Nutt Road to Bridge Street.

State Roads

State roads and highways are cleared by state snow removal crews. The state roads in Phoenixville are Starr Street, Manavon Street, and Main Streets (Route 29), Nutt Road (Route 23) and Kimberton Road, Nutt Road, Bridge Street, Franklin Avenue, Emmett Street, Dayton Street and Black Rock Road (Route 113).

Salting and Plowing

There are two aspects to a snow removal operation. The first being salting and the second, snowplowing. When roads start freeze from falling precipitation, salting operations begin on snow emergency routes and continue until all streets are salted or until salt is no longer effective due to the depth of the snow. The more traffic on a street, the more effective the salt. As a result, sometimes residential streets with small amounts of traffic may appear unsalted.
Please keep in mind that once the temperature drops below 20 degrees, the salt becomes less effective.

Fire Hydrants

If you have a fire hydrant on your property, please clear the snow from around the hydrant. This will assist fire crews in the event of an emergency.

Clearing Sidewalk & Handicap Ramps

Residents are required to clear snow or ice from their sidewalks within 24 Hours after a storm ends. Sidewalks should be cleared to a minimum of three feet wide. This includes sidewalk ramps on your property. Please Do Not Throw Snow on the Roadways. It is against Borough Ordinance and creates dangerous driving conditions, as well as, frustrates both the snowplow operator and residents alike.

Child Safety

Please educate your children on the dangers of snow removal and make sure they play safely.

Remind them to:

• Never build tunnels or snow banks near the street.
• Keep sleds and toys out of the street and away from the edge of the road. Snow banks make it difficult to see children.
• Stay away from the plow – children should stay back at least 20 feet or more from then road.

Motorist Safety

Motorists should use caution around plows. Reduce your speed, keep your distance and don’t pass snow removal equipment while it is plowing and salting. Their visibility is very restricted to the rear of the vehicle.

Clearing Your Driveway

As salting and plowing are difficult operations to perform, residents are requested to park in their driveways or off the street if possible. Please keep in mind that it is almost impossible to keep snow from being deposited at your driveway during plowing, as the plow cannot be lifted or stopped at each driveway it passes.

If you clear your driveway before the street is plowed, here is a tip that will minimize the amount of snow left in front of your driveway. When your driveway is cleared, clear an area to the left of the driveway entrance (standing in the driveway facing the street). When your street is plowed, the snow from the plow can be unloaded in this area instead of your driveway. Plows sometimes find it necessary to make several passes, in order to clear snow all the way to the curb to allow for proper drainage.

Please do not empty snow from your driveway into the street. This slows the overall plowing operation. Also, if snow is placed in the street and freezes, it can create a traffic hazard.

Mailboxes

Checking your mailbox now will keep you worry free all winter when snow plows pass by. Please ensure your mailbox is secure and does not lean over the curb-line. Mailboxes that lean over the curb-line are more likely to get hit by a snowplow. Mailboxes and mailbox posts that are loose, rotten or in generally poor condition can be knocked over by heavy snow. Mailboxes will not be repaired or replaced if damaged by heavy snow.

Basketball Hoop Stands

During the winter months please move basketball hoop stands back from the roadway. Snow plows are taller vehicles and may hit basketball stands that extend over the roadway.

Please Be Patient

As we have not yet figured out how to stop snow from falling in Phoenixville during the winter months, snowplowing will be necessary. Snow removal is a difficult and time consuming job. Since snow removal crews need many hours to complete snow clearing operations, please try to limit your travel during and immediately following a snowfall. If travel is absolutely necessary, be prepared to be delayed. The less traffic on the streets during snow clearing operations, the quicker the job can be accomplished.